My bike and I took a swim.

Edberg · May 6, 2012

Howdy, I made a major boo,boo and drowned my 2008 450 on a creek crossing. The motor was running and drowned before I could stop it. We drained the water out before kicking it over as I heard it could bend a rod. With the spark plug out it was hard to kick over at times. After kicking over and over the motor felt free but when letting it sit before kicking again it felt tight. When it finally started it would only idle, I assume the carburetor was clogged up but the motor was louder than normal, like a valve train noise. I'm in the process of pulling the exhaust, carb, valve cover, clutch cover, oil filter and draining the oil. Most of the water was in the combustion chamber not the gear box. I guess my question is what typically happens to a submarined motor and how can I diagnose the noise.

Thanks
Ed

TDIPower · May 7, 2012

Im quite new to these 'fragile' engined bikes but from 4x4 experience, generaly petrol engines will survive a drown, water in the barrel/combustion chamber as they are a lower compression ratio than a Diesel engine. Given a diesel has about 30:1 compression they do suffer bent rods, as the water won't compress something has to give. The petrol engine only being ~10:1 tend to stall out more so on a single cylinder engine.
As i say, not being that knowlegable about these engines yet, could the timing have skipped a tooth (water pressure trying to keep the valves shut) hence being able to get a 'noisy tic-over' but not more.

Keep us posted on what you find...

best of luck!!
Pete

Blutor · May 7, 2012

hello

you need to raise the bike on its back wheel so there is no water left in the exhaust, a new spark plug should be fitted. and change the oil at least two times so all the milky white oil is replaced.

this would make it run as new again.
that is if you got water in the cylinder

Mono Matt · May 9, 2012

The excessive noise will be a bent valve or conrod :roll: more often than not, when a motor gets drowned while moving it breaks :mrgreen:

Davo · May 10, 2012

Check out this post:
How to save a drowned Berg

Air Cleaner out.
Bike upside down.
Select 6th Gear.
Spin the rear wheel by hand which ever way is free till all the water is out.

Edberg · May 11, 2012

Mono Matt said:
The excessive noise will be a bent valve or conrod :roll: more often than not, when a motor gets drowned while moving it breaks :mrgreen:

I'm afraid your right, got her running again and the noise was still there. I will have to tear the motor down and inspect all moving parts. What a BUMMER.

Thanks for responding to my post guys.

Chas · May 12, 2012

Bike drownings are fairly common in my group. The bikes have all survived, none the worse for wear.

Edberg · Jun 11, 2013

Just thought I would follow up on my post. It was a bent con rod, no valve train damage. When the bike is at idle and takes in water the valves dont overlap and the rod is pretty light weight. All is well now, and I would like to thank this web site for all the info on how to rebuild the motor and the kick shaft spring.

Thanks

Ed :mrgreen:

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My bike and I took a swim.

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